You’ve probably heard the term ‘A woman’s biological clock’, but what does it actually mean and at what age does it start to matter? While a man will make sperm at virtually the same rate throughout his life, the story is very different for women…
In this article
- You are born with all the eggs you are ever going to have.
- You don't make any new eggs during your lifetime.
A woman's biological clock
Let’s start with the biology. You are born with all the eggs you are ever going to have. You don't make any new eggs during your lifetime; in fact, the highest number of eggs you possessed was while you were still in your mother's uterus: a 20-week-old female fetus has about seven million eggs. When you are born, this number has reduced to around two million and by the time you reach puberty and begin menstruation (start your periods) you will have somewhere between 300,000 and 500,000 eggs remaining. At menopause, you will have 1,000 to 2,000 eggs remaining. Also, these eggs are exposed to everything you are exposed to in your lifetime, resulting in a decline in quality as you age as well.
The fact that your supply of eggs is continuously reducing needn't be cause for concern, however, as it is a natural and continuous process, completely independent of birth control pills, pregnancies, nutritional supplements, or even health or lifestyle.
You are at your most fertile during your 20s through your mid-30’s. Fertility rates drop off after the age of 35 years old until menopause. After menopause, it is not possible to get pregnant naturally.
During most menstrual cycles, one of your eggs develops and becomes mature, allowing it to be released from an ovary (ovulation) in preparation for fertilization. However, in order to get 1 good mature egg to develop, you need many eggs to start the process. Though 100s of eggs start together, only one wins the race to be ovulated. The other eggs will die away. Over the course of a lifetime your ovaries will release about 500 eggs in their mature form. When the supply of eggs runs out, your ovaries cease to make estrogen, and you will go through the menopause. For most women this happens around the age of 50: the average age in the developed world is 51.4 years1. From this point onwards you will no longer be able to get pregnant naturally.
I have heard there is a test to measure how many eggs I have left? I read this is measured by Anti-Mullerian hormone and FSH blood tests - what does this mean?
Professor Michael Thomas
In women over the age of 35 who are trying to conceive there are a number of tests that can be carried out to predict ovarian reserve (how many eggs she has left). Blood tests include an AMH or Anti-Mullerian Hormone test, which can be taken at any time in the menstrual cycle and even if you are on birth control pills. AMH is made by the cells surrounding the eggs and may be an early way of determining how much reserve is remaining in your ovaries. Therefore, the more eggs that are remaining, the higher the AMH level. Interpretation of the results of this test may vary between health care providers. Also, on day three of the menstrual cycle (two days after you start your period), you can obtain a blood test for Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and estradiol. These two tests may be a way of determining declining ovarian function at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. Another test for ovarian reserve is an ‘antral follicle count,’ also performed ideally on cycle day 3. During this test, a transvaginal ultrasound is used to determine the number of follicles that are ready to start that cycle. More detailed information on ovarian reserve testing can be found at www.reproductivefacts.org
- 1. Henderson KD., et al. Am J Epidemiology. (2008) 167: 1287-94
Advanced Digital Ovulation Test
To guess? Or not to guess?
Take the guess work out of timing intercourse! Start using ovulation tests!
What’s your menopause stage?
The menopause journey has stages. Learn about yours with Clearblue® Menopause Stage Indicator – 5 easy-to-use tests & a FREE app.